Bactericidal, anti-biofilm, and anti-virulence activity of vitamin C against carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae
Chen Xu, Ning Dong, Kaichao Chen, Xuemei Yang, Ping Zeng, Changshun Hou, Edward Wai‐Chi Chan, Xi Yao, Sheng Chen
Abstract
and in the mouse infection model and is associated with induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In addition, VC inhibited biofilm formation of CR-hvKP through suppressing the production of exopolysaccharide (EPS). In addition, VC acted as an efflux pump inhibitor at subminimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) to disrupt transportation of EPS and capsular polysaccharide to bacterial cell surface, thereby further inhibiting biofilm and capsule formation. Furthermore, virulence-associated genes in CR-hvKP exposed to sub-MIC of VC were downregulated. Our findings indicated VC could be an effective and safe therapeutic agent to treat CR-hvKP infections in urgent cases when all current treatment options fail.